Pigpen: Pre-Dead groups

Pigpen was a member of Mother McCree's Uptown Jug Champions and the Warlocks prior to the formation of the Grateful Dead. A few short tape excerpts and the memories of other performers from the period document Pigpen's other musical activities during the first half of the 1960's.

Peter Albin has said that Pigpen used to sit in on harmonica with this group in 1963, The group included Rodney Albin, Peter Albin and David Nelson.

1963

Second Story Men

The Second Story Men was a short lived group that performed in 1963. The group line-up was Ron 'Pigpen' McKernan, Rodney Albin, Peter Albin and Ellen Kavanaugh. The group possibly played at the Boar's Head in San Carlos and at the Tangent in Palo Alto. A tape of the group exists but the date and location of the recorded performance are uncertain. The tape comprises two songs, McKernan's Blues and Rocky Mountain Blues.

1963/64?

The Zodiacs

It's possible that Pigpen played some shows with an electric blues band called the Zodiacs. Bill Kreutzmann also played with this group. Jerry Garcia may have sat in on bass with the group as well

1964

Pigpen & Peter Albin

A tape exists of Pigpen and Peter Albin playing, possibly at the Top Of The Tangent, in 1964. The tape comprises two songs, John Henry and Hoochie Coochie Man.

1964

Pigpen & Jorma Kaukonen

A tape exists of Pigpen and Jorma Kaukonen playing in 1964. The tape comprises two songs, a solo instrumental version of Sweet Georgia Brown by Jorma and and Betty and Dupree with Jorma on guitar and vocals and Pigpen on harmonica.